Faneromeni

Faneromeni is an area of fairly green farmland on the north-west coast of Lesvos close to Sigri. One main track leads right off the main Andisa to Sigri road just before entering Sigri. This track initially is tarmac but rapidly deterioates to gravel and dust. The road passes several fields which were mainly Alfalpha and comes to a fork. The left fork leads to the beach which has a reedy rivermouth running into the sea at the far end. The right fork passes by olive groves and fords the river leading up to some scrubland. There is also an area of scrub to the left of the track leading down to the beach.

On the scrubby area close to the beach were several Tree Pipits, two Tawny Pipits, a Hoopoe and many Red-backed Shrikes. A Marsh Harrier was seen coming in off the sea to hunt over the farmland, which was the most interesting habitat of the area. One of the fields to the left of the road heading towards the beach had recently been mown and was alive with birds, feeding on large catterpillars and other insects. Shrikes were abundant as were several races of Yellow Wagtail. Numerous Willow Warblers flitted on to the surrounding fences with beaks full of insects and in the fields, Pipits, Whinchats, Northern and Black-eared Wheatears could be seen in good numbers. It was in this field that I saw my only Cinereous bunting of the trip, which unfortunately was only a juvenile bird. This was however, a late bird. Most have left the island by the end of August, as have the majority of Ortolan, Cretzschmars and Black-headed Buntings of which I saw none.

A note of caution. The road from Sigri to Eresos, although marked as a yellow road on some maps, was actually the worst road we tried on the island. We soon turned round and returned via the main road out of Sigri.